Langdyke Countryside Trust Annual Report 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Our mission across Langdyke country

The Langdyke Countryside Trust We want to live in an area where G Torpel Manor Field, near Helpston – works to promote the conservation, nature is at the heart of our lives. the site of a Norman manor house Contents protection and enhancement of the Where swifts and swallows are a and a county wildlife site biodiversity, landscape, natural and central feature of our summer Langdyke Countryside Trust Annual Report G Bainton Heath, Bainton – home to cultural heritage of the rural areas evenings, where otters continue to nightingales and rare insects and north and west of Peterborough, enthral people as they play in the flowers for the benefit of local people, Maxey Cut, where bees and other G Etton Maxey Pits – a 90-acre Our aims ...... 3 wildlife and visitors. insects thrive, not decline, and where there are far more, not less, ponds, wetland with breeding lapwing, Founded in 1999, Langdyke now Chairman’s introduction...... 4 meadows, wild flowers, hedgerows redshank and winter ducks manages six nature reserves – a total and trees. of 180 acres of land – has more than G Etton High Meadow – a small Calendar of events ...... 7 300 household members and its own And where local people can walk or paddock and barn with a community orchard and allotments Around the reserves ...... 8 flock of sheep. cycle out in safety and tranquility across this thriving countryside, Over the years we have planted G Vergette Wood-meadow – wet The natural world...... 16 enjoying the sights and sounds and hedges and trees, restored wild flower woodland and pasture for flowers, even the silence of the natural world; meadows, built tern rafts, created dragonflies and ducks History and archaeology group...... 20 enjoying dark skies and cherishing the ponds and an orchard. heritage – both natural and man- Details of access Barnack Hills and Holes...... 22 We organise weekly work-parties for made- around them. arrangements for our members and monthly nature walks, reserves can be found on Our nature reserves are Amphibians survey ...... 24 regular talks and family days, helping our website at people to understand, value and get G Swaddywell Pit, Helpston – the http://langdyke.org.uk/ Money matters ...... 26 involved with the natural and cultural subject of two poems by John The Trust also works closely with Images of the Year...... 28 heritage. Clare, one of the country’s first Natural England and the Wildlife nature reserves and home to We are a purely voluntary organisation Trusts and helps manage the national hundreds of orchids and over 1200 Acknowledgements...... 30 committed to making a difference to nature reserves at Barnack Hills and species of insect our local countryside. Holes and Castor Hanglands.

Medieval 1999 2003 2005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2017 2018

The medieval Langdyke First management Swaddywell Pit Torpel Manor Torpel Manor Heritage Lottery Bainton Pits Swaddywell and Visitor cabin Langdyke South Langdyke Ermine court of Countryside Trust agreement nature reserve Field nature Field entered into Fund grant for nature reserve Etton Maxey opened at Torpel Group (Castor, Street (Barnack, Nassaburgh founded by four reached for officially opened reserve Higher Level Torpel Manor enter into Higher Manor Field Ailsworth, Sutton, Pilsgate, Ufford, meets under the residents of Swaddywell Pit established Stewardship Field research Level Marholm) Southorpe) Group shade of the Helpston and scheme and visitor cabin Stewardship established established Langley Bush Etton schemes Etton Maxey Pits Vergette High nature reserve Etton High Meadow nature established Meadow nature reserve acquired reserve

2 3 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL REPORT Setting seeds for the Trust to flourish Chairman’s Introduction: Richard Astle

This is the first time I have written been diligently led by our Honorary if we don’t get our legal, financial and establishing our management the introduction to the Langdyke Treasurer, Brian Lawrence, we have and regularly responsibilities right. plan later this year. annual report in the capacity of restructured our committees and So, let me take the opportunity to Our existing reserves continue to Acting Chair of the Trust, taking reshuffled the various roles. thank all of you that work on the develop and support ever up the task from Rick Keymer This has led to my taking up the role Langdyke committees for your help increasing numbers and varieties of who has been the author of this of Chair (albeit as Acting Chair until and perseverance – we cannot wildlife as David Cowcill records in piece ever since the first report the new organisation is formally in achieve our aims without this effort. his article in this report. appeared in 2003. place) from Rick, who now lives in Certainly, this year has been one of A major development was the Richard was the founder of the Shropshire, with Chris Gardiner considerable progress. We have appearance of thousands of Trust and shaped the vision of becoming the Chair of our new expanded our network of nature pyramidal orchids at Etton Maxey Langdyke’s work from the start and Conservation Committee and Chris reserves with the establishment of Pits and there were excellent as we look forward to our 20th Topper, David Cowcill, Mike Horne the new Vergette Wood-meadow, numbers of butterflies across the anniversary in 2019, we will reflect and Margaret Palmer continuing as just north of Etton. reserves, particularly the flourishing on those first two decades and on leaders of the four geographic colony of grizzled skippers at the debt we own to Richard for his groups. Brian continues as Vergette Wood-meadow is right Swaddywell, where Man orchid had vision and how far we have come in Treasurer and Martin Parsons as next to our existing land at Etton Summer heat, dry pond by David Rowell another year of expansion. delivering it and what we need to do Secretary. Peter Leverington is our High Meadow and not far from our next to make a real difference to the new membership secretary. largest reserve at Etton Maxey Pits, The establishment of the new natural and built heritage around us. so we are creating a large block of Langdyke geographic group, All the committee members are land that can be actively managed Langdyke Ermine Street, centred on Langdyke is in the process of passionate about nature and the to establish meadows, hedgerows Barnack and Ufford, was another updating its constitution and wonders of the natural world around and wetlands, all capable of major landmark, meaning that we switching its legal status from that us, so sometimes this focus on providing safe homes for insects, have community groups working of a simple Trust to a Charitable governance seems as if it is a birds, mammals and flowers, that across the entire area of John Clare Interest Organisation, a more deviation from what we really enjoy. can then in time spread out across Countryside. modern and flexible structure. But we cannot manage our the wider countryside. The new team have already made a As part of that work, which has reserves and engage our members We will be opening the new reserve significant contribution in terms of expertise and effort and we plan to develop this group further in the coming year. Surveying for flowers by Mike Horne The year had its challenges of getting them back into the As I mentioned, 2019 is the Trust’s course! We continue to wrestle with paddocks at Etton Maxey! 20th birthday and we will be in some key issues at each of our touch soon to invite you to a series reserves. These are all tasks familiar to of events to mark the occasion. anyone working in nature At Swaddywell it is a battle to keep There will be much to celebrate. conservation. And they are also the grassland open and free from never ending – you can manage Above all perhaps we will celebrate bramble. At Etton Maxey we had to these challenges, but never solve 20 years of positive action by local tackle the spread of the invasive them. Which is part of the fun of it people who have come together in crassula and wonder why lapwing all, I guess, although I struggled to their hundreds working hard to and redshank failed to nest think of that chasing sheep around make a difference to their successfully this year. in 30 degrees of heat! countryside and not only preserve, At High Meadow our challenge was but actually improve the natural Once again, we would like to thank to make sure there was a world and heritage around them. all our members for their continued continuous supply of water for the support and hope that we can see Richard Astle sheep during the heatwave. On as many of you as possible in the Chair August 3 the challenge was months to come. Langdyke Countryside Trust Vergette Wood Meadow, Etton catching three escaped sheep and

4 5 EVENTS EVENTS Events Calendar 2018 – 19

Date Event Details 7 October Autumn fruits and fungi – searching for Meet in the Forestry Commission car park at mushrooms and berries at Southey Woods Southey Woods at 2pm

8 October Conservation work-party at Castor Meet at 10am at the main entrance to the reserve, Hanglands with Froglife off the Helpston Road, off-road parking provided.

20-21 October History and Archaeology Group Test Pits day in Helpston

2 November Conservation work-party at Castor Meet at 10am on the reserve, entrance through Hanglands with Froglife the main gates off the Helpston Road.

10 November Making Homes for Beetles and Butterflies 1:30pm at the Swaddywell Car Park - conservation afternoon at Swaddywell Pit

13 December Dark Skies Evening at Castor Hanglands Meet at 7pm at the main entrance to the reserve, and views of the Geminid meteor shower, off the Helpston Road, off-road parking provided. weather permitting! E-ticket event, booking required.

1 January Langdyke New Year’s Day walk from Meet at 1pm at the Hills and Holes car park, Barnack Wittering Road. Finish by 4pm.

Swaddywell open day 26 January Get stuck into nature at Etton High 2-7pm at Etton High Meadow, with BBQ. Meadow, followed by wassailing in the Please book in advance for the BBQ. community orchard

9 February Winter walk around Bainton Heath and 2pm meet at Torpel Manor Field Pits, winter trees and ducks!

16 March Natural family fun at Castor Hanglands, 1.30pm at the main entrance to the reserve, off road hacking and burning, suitable for all ages! parking provided - bring your own refreshments!

13 April Bluebell walk at Old Sulehay Nature 2pm at Ring Haw Field Station, directions will Reserve near Yarwell be provided

16 May Bats, newts and nightingales at 7.30pm at the main entrance to the reserve, off Castor Hanglands the Helpston Road, off-road parking provided

29-30 June Langdyke’s birthday weekend – Events throughout the weekend and across the celebrating 20 years of positive local action reserves for nature and heritage

12 July Searching for glow worms at 9pm meet at the entrance to the reserve off Barnack Hills and Holes the Wittering Road

13 September Langdyke Annual Members’ Meeting 7pm, venue to be determined Nightingale walk – Castor Hanglands

6 7 RESERVES REPORT RESERVES REPORT Nurturing nature’s natural wonders

Our volunteers are critical to ensure Langdyke country is maintained. the site due to the lumps and bumps the nettles have thinned a little in electricity) on site, plus the human Here David Cowcill explains the needs of our reserves and the constant and around 200 anthills - themselves parts of the site. history and archaeology underfoot, a microcosm of natural history. The Torpel has the most developed work required to keep them in shape … Torpel field was completely enclosed haymaking has been carried out for potential for outreach and direct by a Cornbrash Limestone wall in Members are encouraged to visit all What is your favourite spot, time the reserves towards good three years - only another 57 to go community engagement - through medieval times. About 25 per cent of of our reserves. If you have not done or feature? It would be good to conservation and community to reach optimal conditions! LCT’s Heritage and Archaeology the wall remains, even if not full so, please take an opportunity to see hear your thoughts. outcomes over the time period of our Group and other local organisations The only obvious recent losses have height. The History and for yourself - either on an organised stewardship. For example it hosts “Story of Torpel” As part of my ‘Langdyke Time’ article been the ash tree and its resident Archaeological group have event or just casually. presentations to such as U3A groups, last year, I described the progress of Here is an update and an insight little owls; all the other key plant recovered stone and rebuilt the wall and a running group use it as We are currently running two acres of into what and why we take the species wax and wane according to to “original specification” in the far “basecamp” occasionally, so please land per member, so there is plenty of actions we do. conditions - the Goldilocks buttercup corner near the path to Ashton. make contact if you have any relevant space for all. and the ladies bedstraw have been Another long task to completion! ideas and needs. particularly good in 2017/8, but the With the cabin (and loos, water, Torpel Manor Field, Lastly it is also a County Wildlife Site story about the encounter with the vestigial (English) bluebells struggled; so Natural England have a say (and white foal)! near Helpston advise DEFRA and EH), as Such grazing leads to nitrogen Swaddywell Pit, In some ways, looking after Torpel theoretically do Peterborough City enrichment, when wild species Helpston is a frustrating dance between Council. (plants and insects) need poor soil competing interests. Some photographs recently Luckily time moves slowly on the site, and sparse growth. Moles and emerged of Swaddywell showing English Heritage have the strongest and provided the few precipitate rabbits are okay as change agents, a landscaped green sward sway because the site has Ancient actions needed are justified (as well as badgers rewarding but a little more overlaying the landfill on the Monument status - so no digging agreed and permitted!), some slow problematic, grazing by sheep is south western corner - now the holes - even for fenceposts - without progress is made. good, but their intense scrapes in top meadow. permission. the shade destroy both rare plants The key activity is correct and and historical remains. The last working area of the quarry in Then the DEFRA Higher Level sympathetic grassland management the NE corner was a large pile of Stewardship prescriptions describe an to recover from at least 200 years of The large-scale fallback is to cut and stone waste in an even larger lake, annual outcome with permitted (and collateral damage from horse grazing remove the hay, preferably by baling with a bare rock face where the forbidden) actions. (remember the John Clare ghost not flailing, but this cannot cover all boardwalk is. The disturbance to the mid-section by the construction of the racetrack and associated features, followed by its demise and the remodelling of the lake, have created the varied habitats now present. Unlike Torpel where we are trying to roll back uniformity, at Swaddywell the puzzle is to understand and preserve the jigsaw we have - what species are dependent on which relatively small part or feature of this landscape. Doing nothing is not an option. On the top meadow, the rose briars and hawthorn may look sweet in Spring - but left too long they create a scrub preventing effective sheep grazing and endangering the orchids; in the centre, the willow and

8 9 RESERVES REPORT RESERVES REPORT Nurturing nature’s natural wonders Chairman’s Introduction: Richard Astle Swaddywell Pit, waterlogged area in winter), a experts to visit, they are amazed by Bainton Heath groundwater flow (from Castor the sheer variety, whatever their (continued) Helpston Hanglands at source) where the particular interest and especially Fragile but capable of occasional wading birds - snipe and quarry workings cut deep on the west insects and plants. At the last count conservation and rescue is an water rail in the winter; on the banks side, and a ditch/stream running we had more than 1000 invertebrates extreme summary of this and fringes it is bramble and old down the Southern edge from and the plant list stands at more than interesting and unique reserve. man’s beard that crowd out the Willowbrook Farm; these latter two 300 varieties. smaller plants and species such as sources combine to seep down the The underlying fragility is the very Are we being successful? weld and mignonette. quarry area, with two reed-covered existence of a large acidic feature I believe yes. ponds, into the final holding area in (ex rubble, coal and ash dump) in So the Langdyke volunteers spend a the NE corner. The simple attractions develop each an alkaline/neutral Welland valley lot of time cutting and slashing and year - the pyramidal orchids, the arable landscape - and all the generally removing stuff. Yes it largely dries out in dry summers spotted orchids in the wooded species of lichens, plants and - but that in itself is a quite rare pre- Then ironically many insects and glade, the bee orchids in the insects inhabiting. requisite for more insects, so we some plants need bare ground, bottom pit, and also each year tolerate it. As an extra reserve, fed by This landscape fragility is overlain by perhaps provided by the natural brings its own “first” (successively rainwater from the cabin roof, we site-specific threats from the erosion of the soft quarry walls for man orchid, then lizard orchid, then constructed a pond near the cabin dominant species introduced or man orchids, or a man-made scrape a first glow-worm, and increasing which is designed not to dry out - imposing themselves; mature by a gateway hosting cudweed - or numbers of dingy skipper and even in 2018’s incredibly dry times! A poplar, sycamore and conifer trees even an anthill again, as at Torpel. grizzled skipper butterflies). consequential benefit is the number blocking out light (and falling in high Another key variable is the availability and variety of dragonflies able to be Both these butterflies require an winds) , calamagrostis grass and storage of water. In addition to studied in reasonable comfort. adult-stage nectar plant, then a covering the heathland and rainfall, there are three sources - run- caterpillar-stage food plant found in excluding the bare ground areas, The overall reward is the richness of off from the clay oversoil of the top sparse chalk environments. too many deer grazing out the natural life present on the site. field (itself with at least one Perhaps explaining the increased scrub and eliminating the thick Whenever we have surveys, or population, we find that we have all growth to the ground used by these plants on site, and have nightingales - just to mention the Nightingale, Castor Hanglands by Sarah Lambert (maybe inadvertently) augmented main ones! the incredibly dry season which will Back to fragility. To the owners their numbers, so hello butterflies We cannot eliminate these threats - peg back the over-active species. (National Grid) the site’s functional and welcome to Swaddywell! only work to ensure they do not It is a relief that as the site is not value is supporting two electricity However all this care takes a huge completely destroy another species grazed by sheep or subject to HLS distribution systems and a sub- volunteer effort in order to retain of value. Also and ironically they do prescriptions, no meadow station. control, as site-wide contracted grassland management is required. host attractions themselves - such Ironically these tall features have solutions are limited to grassland as the locally common but nationally As elsewhere the works are carried been seen to host ravens, falcons management again. rare cocolourous moth and the out by volunteers undertaking and chattering starling groups, and A work party meets each week to calamgrostis and other specific and suitable-sized tasks on a June evening recently a turtle do whatever is necessary, so, a plea invertebrates in the poplars. (part of the Western reserves dove gave a close-up display from - please if you have time on a Recent efforts went into clearance of Thursday efforts), with occasional the wires nearest the fishery lakes. Thursday morning, or the trees around two attractive lakes - to input from professionals. NG have a conservation and occasional weekend, consider ensure clear water and richness of The site hosts at least one formal environment policy - and are so far giving up a few hours to work on lake and lakeside life. Given the LCT open event per year, but if you happy to delegate site management the reserve (tasks are available for established mix, also as the trees do want to increase your knowledge inputs and efforts to LCT. all) by calling any of the usual and experience, the work party is mature, some need to be replaced. As well as action on the ground we Langdyke contacts. This is a very the way to go. A plan going forward is to establish must ensure the fragility of the site is companiable activity, helped by the a method of ensuring open bare recognised and its conservation tea and cakes normally on offer at ground is maintained on the value supported going forward the close. Grizzled Skipper heathland. This may be helped by towards the next rental period.

10 11 RESERVES REPORT RESERVES REPORT Nurturing nature’s natural wonders

Etton Maxey Pit Valley, and insects throughout the apply! Etton High Meadow boundaries have become tall lively wetland feature in a dry area, summer. Water Vole were seen in hedgerows, and more recently an with suitable plants and great By contrast to the intimacy of The smarter we get with the grazing summer 2017, but we do not know The backstory of all of the other orchard with 72 trees has been insects. Where else would you find Swaddywell, Etton Maxey Pit is a plan the more electric fence enough yet about their location and LCT reserves seems to have created, showing the variety of wild pears and spindle tree, medlars huge open landscape of around construction is needed to segregate numbers, and there has been no involved significant mineral plants and flowers present in the and quinces, alongside emperor 34 hectares - the equivalent size the various areas. evidence so far this year. extraction or land-shaping. sward if left ungrazed. (The dragonflies and purple loosestrife? of about thirty football pitches. Just as at Swaddywell, attractive subdivided paddocks are used as Aside from the need to cut or flail the By contrast Etton High Meadow Extending the conservation theme However a similar number of habitat plants for some species, eg creeping “overflow” grazing from the reserves, main meadows in late summer, the shows what can be done to the site also hosts a number of bee ranges exist (and geological ranges thistles and nettles, become a and to segregate sheep from rams main tasks are associated with rejuvenate straightforward flat local hives - with all the background too - it is also a RIGS site due to the problem if left unchecked for too long. at certain times of the year). keeping willow growth under control, arable land. threats to bees from man-made post-ice age Control is a mixture of On a recent walk for the John Clare As well as the barn structure, a sources, a wonderful opportunity for complexities). contractor spray work and spot-weeding the hard way. Society, it was seen how hostile to “cottage garden” had originally been some rebalancing. Having for more than created in the SE corner with most wildlife is the usual intense Cutting vegetation back is once three years flailed away All this takes place with heritage fruit trees and hedgerows - arable wheat or barley field - a again the major theme of site an attempted invasion owners and partners Tarmac all now matured. desert with little species presence maintenance - as well as by willow carr, we now chipping in under their or variation. This is now the location of six mechanically flailing the meadows have an open set of planning obligations By contrast over more than twenty allotments for local people, (contracted out), the fruit trees need pastures. overseen by Peterborough City Council, and working to years, the paddocks around the supplemented by a lined pond fed some weed clearance, as do the We can vary the DEFRA specifications to be large barn at High Meadow have with water from the barn roof. wildflower banks around the background water level allotments and the corners of nettles. able to benefit from Higher reverted to grazed meadows, the In four years this has become a by controlling the pump Level Stewardship funding. More subdividing hedges which extracts into have been planted to Maxey Cut. This Once again, the overriding supplement the paddock’s translates into wet areas logic - once basic control wire fencing, requiring managed as home and has been achieved - is to protection and a little (!) breeding ground for conserve and encourage watering at times, as do the waders (lapwing, what’s already on the new fruit trees. Hedge-laying redshank and little ringed reserve. has already thickened up the plover), some drier areas Attempts (ed - David’s allotment boundaries - more home to skylarks, and a indulgence!) to cultivate a will be needed in years to wooded area which this significant area for winter bird come in the paddock areas. year was a “purple haze” seed (as at Vine Farm with thousands of Deeping St Nicholas) have Adding in the maintenance of pyramidal orchids. not yet succeeded due to the sheep shelters and the various bird and bat boxes, All are shared by a over-dry conditions after this all translates into a lively brown hare population - sowing; we are considering a and varied set of tasks for up to four have been more targeted action to handymen (and women) and seen, with amusing encourage the turtle doves that have been regularly seen in the anyone able to wield a encounters with sheep and between fence access and and boundary Maxey and Maxey Cut area (as well lopper or shears, a rake or leverets and sizeable young waders. maintenance to protect the sheep, as Bainton Pits). strimmer/brush cutter. There are water inflows from the and the annual task of maintaining the The group meets at the barn surrounding areas (W and NE) which three tern rafts - galling when they are Lastly we hope to install some sluice every other Monday from feed a network of reedy ditches and taken over by rather less spectacular features in the ditches to create more 10am to work on the the main lake. black headed gulls. variations in wetness over the seasons in the central meadows. reserves or High Meadow as This in turn attracts migrating birds We have a flat-bottomed boat to help tasks demand - there is a following their paths along the Welland with this task - sailors are welcome to refreshment sub-group too!

12 13 RESERVES REPORT RESERVES REPORT Nurturing nature’s natural wonders

Vergette Wood-Meadow, Etton Gravel extraction is a key woodland (about 60/40 lake area Many were in common with Etton resource of a developing area with ten year old trees) and an High Meadow across the road, but such as Cambridgeshire, with associated meadow strip adjacent Grass Vetchling and Smooth Tare lowland river valleys such as the to the South Drain, not arable illustrate the potential for much Welland, and Etton/Maxey farmed for many years but subject greater meadow richness - or being dense and active locations. to low-level grazing. further down the rejuvenation path. Two unintended benefits for The recent usage pattern perhaps Maintaining the wet woodland will conservation are that it breaks up points to a four-year rotation as a be a learning opportunity! the “arable desert” and disturbs the model for other reserve pasture - Otherwise we hope for a low- land-ownership values and patterns graze, graze and flail, fallow, fallow maintenance regime, perhaps such that on restoration parcels of and flail, being the sequence. following the four-year rotation to land are released with little of their In the fourth year (2018) late ensure one area of the meadow is original value. spring/early summer produced a always in the rich sward condition, This is the background to LCT spectacular result for ex-arable land with some ideas for limited public being able to take a long-term rent - 60 species of plants being access (and control) in this site on a parcel of land directly opposite recorded on an initial survey. which borders Peterborough’s Etton High Meadow, covering a wet Green Wheel.

Illustration by Ivan Cumberpatch

Vergette Wood Meadow, Etton Illustration by Ivan Cumberpatch

14 15 THE NATURAL WORLD 2017-18 THE NATURAL WORLD 2017-18 Deep snow in winter, scorching sun in summer

Richard Astle’s round-up of The autumn saw a major influx banks at Etton Maxey this month – Spring 2018 saw my first swallow of the year on including at the Hanglands, events across the seasons across England of the elusive, but a very early taste of the summer April 10 at Swaddywell and found although they were purring away at If you tend to think that Spring starts in Langdyke country … very beautiful, hawfinch –relative of ahead? blackcap, sand martin and willow Bainton Heath in late July) and I all our more familiar finches, but in March then this was a frustratingly Autumn 2017 January continued wet and grey – a warbler at Waterside Garden Centre saw my first, rather late flock of larger and with a large, powerful bill. much-delayed season. There is only rather colourful moment was the on April 13. swifts there too on May 13. August often feels like a quiet month Hugh Wright found two in Helpston so much mud you can wade sight of a fox at Etton Maxey trying And as the weather cheered up so Our regular Spring walk at the for birds, but in fact many of our itself in mid-November. through when walking the dog! to get through the gate into Central did the birdlife with lapwing, little Hanglands on May 10 attracted migratory species are already well March not only continued wet, Winter 2017-18 Paddock only to be met by a wall of ringed plover and redshank on site more than 40 members and guests on their way south for the winter leaving the local woods almost sheep who would not let him pass – at Etton Maxey by the middle of the and was well supported by a cast and we often get a variety of Snow in December is a real rarity in impassable with mud and surface he raced off into the ditches in some month. of loud singing nightingales and two species stopping off at Etton Maxey John Clare Countryside but we had water, but it was cold too with alarm! hobbies overhead and the Pits to refuel on the long journey. two snowfalls this month and frosts regular frosts and a couple of My garden pond turned up 35-40 throughout! The sheep were less happy in the discovery by twilight of the often A whinchat was on the reserve on snowfalls. newts on April 16 too and there middle of the month when the snow hard-to-find orchid, the twayblade, This didn’t translate into any were brimstone butterflies on the August 5 and a wheatear on Deceptively there were skylark and near the main ponds. covered the ground bringing them wing at the Hills and Holes on April September 2. A very large mixed particularly significant influxes of yellowhammer in song in the first very happily to the supplementary 14. There was an early swift over Toads had a relatively good season flock (c 4000 birds) of sand martins unusual birds or nature sightings. week of March and regular views of feeding stations. There were up to the Maxey Pits on April 27. at the Hanglands too, Mike Horne’s and swallows (c4000) were There were water rails calling at barn owl at twilight along the Maxey 120 teal on the reserve too and article in this report gives more congregating over the reserve on Swaddywell and Ben Jonson pit Cut and South Drain and over the Once again, the rafts at Etton good views of brown hare early in details, with a peak of 400 toads August 19 and went to roost in the during the month and goosander on Vergette pit. Indeed you could Maxey were taken over by black the month. there on April 7. reed bed - they were attacked in the Maxey Cut, but a noticeable almost set your watch by it, it was headed gulls before the terns could Yellow aconite had appeared in fading light by a single hobby. absence of flocks of small birds. that regular! settle from their long migration from Dragonflies were also out and Royce Wood by February 11 but in Africa, but redshank and lapwing about with variable, large red and Other bird highlights of the season I reflected on this during one barren On the other hand Castor contrast another fall of snow at the settled down to nest in early May common blue damselfly seen at included up to seven ruddy visit to Swaddywell, remembering Hanglands was almost in flood this end of February brought large and there were regular sightings of Bainton Heath on May 8 with shelduck at Etton Maxey (a new the large flocks of tree sparrow, week, with ponds springing up numbers of fieldfare and redwing brown hare across the site. cuckoo, nightingale and willow species for the reserve) and two reed bunting and yellowhammer across the footpaths in the into local gardens, with many warbler all in song there too. whooper swans on October 7. A pair of grey partridge was also that we used to have there in the members reporting them turning up woodlands. There was a ring ouzel present for seen for the first time on the By the middle of May the weather winter when we first started work on and very aggressively seizing the Chiffchaff were singing in Royce two days in early October and 31 reserve, a welcome addition to its was seriously warming up and in the site in the early 2000s. food from the more regular garden Wood by the end of the month, but little grebe on the pits south of the growing bird list. This is often called consequence the grizzled skipper Early in the month there was a small birds! the return of frost and snow in the Maxey Cut on October 28. the English partridge in recognition colony was emerging at starling murmuration over the pits at There were plenty of snipe on the middle of March held back most Passage waders during the period of its natural status here, compared Swaddywell and the Man orchid Maxey, seen from the Green Bridge. Etton Maxey Pits reserve throughout signs of Spring. included single dunlin, greenshank to the red legged or French colony reached its highest number the month, and at least two jack Blackthorn was particularly late in and green sandpiper in August and On a different note there were 30-40 partridge, which is much more of individual spikes yet, with at least snipe at the end of February. emerging into bloom this year. a ruff on October 14. orchid whorls already out on the common now, but was introduced sixty in flower on the banks behind Often it is out in late February, but for shooting in the late 19th century. the tool shed. Live mammal trapping at this year it didn’t really flower – and There was no sign however of the A hot sunny day on May 18 brought Swaddywell and Etton Maxey Pits then only weakly - until April. Cetti’s warblers which have made the grizzled skippers out in force, I turned up water shrew on both Cowslips were out at Barnack Hills their home on the reserve in recent counted 22 on Ben Jonson pit in reserves in August. and Holes four week’s later than years – this species is very the morning and 30 at Swaddywell last year. Shades of summer lingered on in a vulnerable to cold winters, but in the afternoon. Brimstone, dry season with hummingbird hawk By early April with no sign to an end hopefully it will bounce back and be peacock and tortoiseshell also on moths on two occasions in my to the rain there were pools of singing away again next year. the wing, with whitethroat, lesser garden in September and red water lying across many of the whitethroat and cuckoo calling too. On the other hand, the increasingly admirals still around in late October arable fields around Helpston and rare turtle dove was back on the The rather scarce changing-forget- with plenty of hornets on the wing Etton. too. wires along the Maxey Cut by May me-not was out in flower at Nevertheless, Spring was just 10 (although subsequent sightings Swaddywell on May 19 too. starting to make its appearance – I ????? were very scarce elsewhere,

16 17 THE NATURAL WORLD 2017-18 THE NATURAL WORLD 2017-18 Deep snow in winter, scorching sun in summer (Continued)

Summer 2018 Perhaps most notably there were profusion too - particularly purple The Swaddywell season started well Our new reserve at Vergette Wood- record numbers of the nationally hairstreak, ringlet, meadow brown, with man orchids increasing in meadow was alive with flowers by the If Spring started wet and cold, rare black hairstreak in mid-June at gatekeeper, common blue, number. There haven’t been any new end of May, with far more variety than summer started warm and just Castor Hanglands with one report peacock, red admiral, large, small species recorded on the reserve, this we had expected. kept going. year, but in the pit, cudweed re- of more than 300 individuals on the and Essex skippers and large, small Unsurprisingly the base species are appeared after a two-year gap. The There was scarcely a drop of rain in wing and then the appearance of and green veined white. similar to the ungrazed parts of Etton June and July and by the end of purple emperors, Britain’s largest most notable change has been key The only downside of this butterfly High Meadow just across the road, that month the grasslands around butterfly, at several locations across species spreading over the reserve, bonanza is that it may not translate but with far more variety and richness our villages showed scarcely a the Hanglands on the weekend of particularly in the case of common into more butterflies next year – with of species. blade of green grass. June 30 – July 1. This butterfly only knapweed, upright hedge parsley and the grasslands parched there are The carmine red flowers of grass reappeared at the Hanglands 2-3 lesser centaury. Torpel, Etton Maxey Pits and Etton few plants for the females to lay their vetchling were a particularly nice years ago and now seems to be Entomologist Alan Stubbs was High Meadow resembled scenes eggs on and this year’s boom could discovery (also seen in good numbers spreading quickly across the site pleased to see wild carrot coming from the African savannah, parched lead to next year’s severe crash. Otter, Maxey by Angela Trotter at Swaddywell this year), along with and arid, although sadly no large and into other local woods. from the grassland to the pit, Otters once again provided great clumps of purple Smooth Tare - mammals to compare with the because it is a good for insects. A wonderful, breath taking views as quite different from our other reserve Serengeti! single plant of greater knapweed they played in the Maxey Cut meadows. was found last year, this year there Interesting sightings of birds were throughout the period and those were three! And by early August the seasons had few and far between given the heat. lucky enough to catch sight of them come round full circle again – the first in the gloaming were also able to Sadly, the highlight of 2017, lizard Lapwings seem to have raised 1-2 migrant waders were in evidence in see a newly discovered colony of orchid, didn’t re-appear, and we chicks at Etton Maxey Pits and the first week, mainly using the new glow-worms along the banks of the fear for the autumn ladies’ tresses there were a couple of sightings of gravel workings along the South Drain, Cut, with over 20 reported on one because of drought. the rare bittern on the reserve too. with four common sandpipers there beautiful summer’s night, with Likewise, at Torpel Manor Field, on August 1 and 6 green sandpiper Sand martin were out and about in badger and bats adding variety to although we were unable to and 150 lapwing on August 2. Two good numbers in the wetland areas, the spectacle! measure the floristic content this black tailed godwits were on the Etton presumably nesting on the new Swaddywell, too, finally revealed its year, we reckon flowers are Maxey Pits reserve on August 3. workings south of the Drain and glow-worm secrets this year with spreading, particularly ladies’ Painted lady butterflies were in after a slow start, swifts were two females found ‘lit up’ at the end bedstraw. An amazing number of evidence this week and there were still present in reasonable numbers too. of June. There is a strong likelihood burnet saxifrage flowers appeared plenty of common blue, gatekeeper Little owls put in an appearance on that there are many more colonies all over the field – previously only and meadow brown around, and a the Maxey Pits complex but were of these intriguing beetles waiting to one plant has been found. few swifts lingering overhead, as the otherwise scarce. And there were be discovered in our area. summer sun continued. Silver Washed Fritallaries by Royce Wood no reports of spotted flycatcher at June bugs – also members of the all in our area this year. With high temperatures throughout Silver washed fritillary were the period it was interesting to find a beetle family - were also noticeable Cuckoos seem to have had a common in all the local woods brown rat bathing in the pond at along the Cut during this period, reasonable year, with sightings at (again this butterfly only re- High Meadow on July 20, swarming around the tops of oak Swaddywell, Ben Jonson, Bainton colonised the area in the last five presumably trying to keep cool, It and ash trees along the Cut and Pits, Castor Hanglands and Maxey years) and there were single records looked very relaxed with just its South Drain, making a very Pits and there were hobbies in small of white letter hairstreaks at the head out of the water! aggressive buzzing noise in the numbers across the area. The odd Hanglands and in Oxey and Royce process. report of an osprey along the Cut Woods and two in my Helpston Brown hares were also much more Hornets had taken over two nest was also intriguing. garden on several occasions noticeable as the harvest started in late July, there were two racing boxes in Royce Wood by the end It was butterflies that stole the show throughout July. across a recently cut rape field off of July. this summer, with numbers and And not only did the rare species Maxham’s Green Lane on July 19. Despite the drought conditions, varieties beyond anyone’s recent turn up in numbers, but the there has been plenty of floral memories. common butterflies were out in interest on our reserves. Barnack Hill and Holes in the snow

18 19 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP ANNUAL REPORT History on hold - because of the weather!

Mike Clatworthy and Frieda Gosling round up the organisation’s activities

Well, what a frustrating year it has October and thought that we were to processing and publishing our been! The weather has played havoc back on track. results. with what is, for most of the time, Not so …. we then encountered the The sale and probable development essentially an outdoor activity. extremes of weather thrown at us of the Exeter Arms has left our Things looked fine back in over the winter and ‘so-called’ researches there to the vagaries of September 2017 when we looked to spring. the planning department, though we end the summer on a high note. are keeping in touch. Wall building in April had to be Test Pits were planned at the Exeter cancelled as well as our test pitting at The group will also extend test pitting Arms and other central Helpston the end of the month. to Ufford this year. We will also be venues for the last weekend in the continuing our links to the Fenland We did manage to continue our month. However, our plans were Young Archaeologists Club who have programme of field walking around disrupted by the discovery of part of been very helpful with our activities. the Torpel area by extending our grid a human skull in one of our pits. over the field at the end of Talks and displays have continued The statutory notification to the police Broadwheel Road. We still have a throughout the year, boosted by the and the setting up of a ‘crime scene’ small area to complete, which we book publication. meant that all action ceased. The may be able to fit in this coming Our high note this year has been to confirmation of the medieval origin of autumn. A further wall building assist with the birth and delivery of the skull came too late for us to re- session will be offered in the autumn the Helpston Village History Group, schedule. or spring 2019. which has developed as a direct We then had a very successful For the 2018/2019 season we result of HAG’s activity and displays Illustration by Ivan Cumberpatch launch of our book about Torpel obviously intend to try and complete at the Gala and the John Clare Manor Field in the first week of our test pitting around Helpston, prior Festival. We wish them well.

Illustration by Ivan Cumberpatch

20 21 BARNACK HILLS AND HOLES BARNACK HILLS AND HOLES Langdyke welcomes a national treasure to the family

Barnack Hills and Holes is a popular spot for visitors, but as Margaret Palmer explains it is also a fragile jewel that needs loving care and attention …

Last year - with the encouragement of of plants survives. The Man Orchid can survive in longer Another set of problems arises from Figure 2. Number of Man Orchid spikes recorded in Natural England - The Friends of vegetation than the Pasque Flower public access. Nobody is monitoring areas, 1976 – 2017 In only five sites does the population Barnack Hills and Holes joined the and, being winter-green, is more suggesting that the public should be number over a thousand: there are an (Data from Natural England) Langdyke Countryside Trust family, susceptible to grazing. denied the pleasure of visiting the estimated 20,000 plants growing in bringing Barnack Hills and Holes Hills and Holes, but the impact of the Hills and Holes. Monitoring of Is the grazing intensity that suits the National Nature Reserve within LCT’s large numbers of visitors is selected areas indicates that the plant Pasque Flower too severe for the Man geographical area. beginning to tell. has responded favourably to site Orchid, or is some other factor at This ancient stone quarry is management, as the population here work? How can the needs of both The Reserve is very popular with recognised as a wildlife site of both has increased recently (see Figure 1). species be satisfied simultaneously on families and dog walkers, both from UK and international importance, such a small site? Barnack and further afield, and the Barnack Hills and Holes is important hence its designation as a Site of network of well beaten paths is on a European scale because it is A study of grassland nature reserves Special Scientific Interest and a obvious. exceptionally rich in orchids. has shown that high levels of Special Area of Conservation under atmospheric nitrogen deposition, The Skylark, which is susceptible to the EU Habitats Directive. The red listed Man Orchid is one of which can increase soil fertility, are disturbance, no longer nests on the eight orchid species found there. Its 23 hectares is a fragment of associated with a decline in the Reserve. Natural England erects Unlike the Pasque Flower, this orchid nutrient-poor calcareous grassland of frequency of characteristic lime-loving temporary fencing around the most has recently suffered a marked decline outstanding floristic richness, set in a plants and rare species. sensitive areas during the flowering in the Hills and Holes. landscape of intensive agriculture and period, and has installed dog waste Barnack Hills and Holes has busy low biodiversity. It now represents half Areas where the largest numbers bins to help reduce the burden of roads on two sides and Natural the remaining ‘unimproved’ limestone occur have been monitored for four nitrogen enrichment from England’s Site Improvement Plan has grassland in Cambridgeshire. decades, and the count of flower excrement. identified atmospheric nitrogen spikes has dropped from a high of Scrub removal and winter sheep deposition as a threat to the Reserve. These problems are likely to be over 1800 in the 1980s to a recent grazing, initiated by the Wildlife Trust But what can be done about this? exacerbated soon, as eighty new average of around a hundred (see around 1970 and continued by houses are to be built in Barnack, Figure 2). Natural England, have controlled the increasing the village’s population by trees and coarse herbaceous 20 per cent. vegetation that threatened to out- Figure 1. Number of Pasque Flower plants recorded We will need to redouble our efforts compete the rare grassland plant in fixed monitoring plots, 1975 – 2017 to educate visitors about the value community. (Data from Natural England) and fragility of Barnack Hills and However, the site now faces other Holes if it is to be protected from threats, which create complex being loved too much. management problems. The Pasque Flower - the iconic species of the Hills and Holes - is on the national Red List because it is in danger of extinction in Britain. It is confined to warm slopes with shallow soil, where competition from other species is restricted. It now grows in only 18 places in England, but in many of these a mere handful Rich, T.C.G., Cooper, E.A., Rodwell, J.S. & Malloch, A.J.C. 1993. Effects of Climate Change and Air Pollution on British Calcicolous Grasslands. Final report to UK Department of the Environment.

22 23 AMPHIBIAN SURVEYS AMPHIBIAN SURVEYS A dip into the data about life in pondland

Langdyke’s Mike Horne Comments: Robinson’s pond It has the potential to be a useful looks at what the surveys On an earlier visit on April 9 there Grid reference: No NGR taken pond again. reveal about how had been 4 male toads, 1 female 1 female Palmate newt M’Lady’s pond – on April 22. amphibians fared during a toad and I male frog present. No 2 juvenile (approximately two-year- Grid reference:TL11282 98287 wet spring and dry frogspawn or toadspawn was seen old) frogs 5 male Smooth newts summer on either April 9 or 17. Further visits Comments: 4 female Smooth newts during May found several thousand It has so far been a good year for The first time in several years there Comments: toad tadpoles and several hundred local amphibians, particularly in has been water in this pond, and the A lot of water plant debris was frog tadpoles - encouraging, given terms of it being a successful aquatic plant life is almost completely covering the surface which made it the ongoing decline in toad and frog breeding season. made up of grass and reeds. difficult to look into. No sight or numbers in recent years. sound of any frogs or Ponds - which have in the last few Gate Pond Newt larva, Castor Hanglands by Brian Lawrence Harris pond years had little or no water - were at Grid Reference: TF 11795 00882 toads,although frogs are known to Grid reference: ‘Upton’ pond – on April 16 Comments: their capacity this Spring. 4 female Great Crested newts breed in very low numbers in Splash TF 11841 01685 Grid reference: TF11126 00156 Again, this was another first visit at 3 male Palmate newts Dyke near Station Road, around Even ponds that had not had 56 GCN’s 11 male Palmate newts night. The pond is almost 1 female Palmate newt 100m metres to the east. standing water in them for many <10 Palmate newts 4 female Palmate newts completely covered over by years had enough water to Comments: 1 male Smooth newt overhanging branches. It has a low Whilst it is outside the ‘Langdyke Comments: encourage pond weed to start This is a pond members of Froglife 1 female Smooth newt wall on three sides, hence the name area’, I also visited the pond near 56 GCN’s were recorded, although I growing again. and Langdyke worked on together 1 male Great Crested newt I’ve given it. There is very little Orton Hall Hotel in April and wasn’t able to note how many during Autumn 2017, and it has 4 female Great Crested newts vegetation, and was very murky. It recorded findings as below. I’d All the frog and toad tadpoles had males and females there were would benefit from some remedial done some litter picking there with benefitted since with much more Comments: metamorphosed successfully before because of the very short periods work to allow light in. Froglife in March and was interested daylight and reduced leaf fall. I found all three newt species here – the ponds dried out, and only one they were visible before swimming in seeing how the toad population albeit in low numbers. This is one of Oaktree pond – on May 13 pond in Castor Hanglands had into cover. South pond was faring. completely dried before at least Grid reference: TF 11769 00753 the ponds showing signs of Grid reference:TF11167 01516 Newt pond some of the newt efts had been 6 female Palmate newts succession and it would greatly 4 male Palmate newts Orton Hall pond – on April 7. Grid reference: TF 11787 01696 able to metamorphose and leave. 2 male Palmate newts benefit from having maintenance 5 female Palmate newts Grid reference: Unrecorded 24 GCN’s work which would allow more light in. On May 16 98 pairs of toads Whilst there are still many <10 Palmate newts Comments: 1 male Smooth newt 202 single males Northern pond – on May 15 unanswered questions relating as to <10 Smooth newts South pond is actually divided into 1 female Smooth newt 4 female Great Crested newts why toad numbers, in particular, two ponds. The larger, Eastern Grid reference:TF11353 02280 Comments: 5 male Great Crested newts have been declining for the last pond had a very small number of 2 female GCN’S Comments: This has always been a good pond Circa 45 Smooth newts twenty years or so, this year has toad tadpoles, and the Western one 9 Male Palmate newts A very shallow pond formed at the for GCN’s although in recent years 1 female frog seen several thousand young had around 100 frog tadpoles. 2 female Palmate newts base of very possibly the oldest Oak many newt efts died before toadlets leave ponds to take their 1 female Smooth newt tree on the western side of Castor Circa a total of 85 ‘clumps’ of metamorphosis due to it completely Old Field Pond – on May 2. Hanglands - hence the name I call it. frogspawn (indicating a population chances in the surrounding woods. Comments: drying out. Grid reference: TF 13170 00249 of around 150 adult frogs) Here’s a break down of the surveys 77 Great Crested Newts - 31 male This was the first time I’d visited at Bridle path pond – on May 16. Castor Hanglands - Southern pond we have carried out: and 46 female night and all three newt species Grid reference: Not taken Comments: area on April 23: 26 Smooth Newts - 11 male and were present. This pond would No amphibians sighted Clearly, the 400 toads I saw are Castor Hanglands - doing quite well. There were more Maffit pond. 15 female benefit from some work to allow Comments: Northern pond area on toads arriving throughout my two- Grid reference: TF 11752 00978 more light in. This is the first year of many I have April 17: Comments: hour visit. The nearby ‘satellite’ pond 14 Great Crested Newt’s Wall pond – on May 13. seen water in it, which is why I have Main pond. Grid reference: The water level was the highest I’ve had several Smooth newts and <10 Palmate newts Grid reference:TF11009 02125 not previously taken its grid TF 11951 01626 ever seen it. Earlier, on December 27 around 25 clumps of frogspawn. <10 Smooth newts 2 male Palmate newts reference. However, whilst there are 2 male Great Crested newts I was able to stand in the centre of The 60 or so clumps of frogspawn Comments: 2 female Palmate newts some trees growing in the middle 1 female Great Crested newt this pond in training shoes, because in the main pond were laid in No evidence of either frogs or toads. 2 female Smooth newts (which I estimate are around thirty 1 male toad there was only an inch of water. shallow water at the Northern end. <10 Palmate newts On a later visit in June there were Disappointingly, I didn’t see any toad years old) there were al so water <5 Smooth newts still over 20 adult GCN’s present, tadpoles, although toads have crowfoot plants and water fleas. and between 25 to 30 GCN efts . regularly bred here previously. 24 25 MONEY MATTERS MONEY MATTERS

Time to look at where SUMMARISED ACCOUNTS 2017/18 future money will come from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 1 April 2016 to 31 Key issues at Etton High Meadow, tree planting 2018 March 2017 at Bainton Heath and reducing the G We use more than 50 per cent encroachment of scrub on the top £%£% of our spend directly on our meadow at Swaddywell Pit. reserves, INCOME During the year, two thirds of non- G More than three-quarters of our reimbursable expenditure was Government Subsidies 27,937 75% 27,139 79% income comes from Agricultural spent on conservation activities: 63 subsidies under the EU’s Subscriptions from 2,610 7% 2,140 6% per cent going directly Common Agricultural Policy members to conservation activity on the (CAP), reserves with an additional 16 per Grants and Donations 2,154 6% 5,069 15% G Members subs only amount to cent on equipment and seven per cent of our total infrastructure. Sales (books and cards) 2,600 7% 0 0% income, which represented just Just 15 per cent went to 11.5 per cent of the trust’s Miscellaneous income 1,836 5% 23 0% administration, which covers expenditure, insurance, governance etc. and five Total Income 37,137 34,371 G Payments made up only per cent to other trust and 61 per cent of income in 2017/18. community activities such as PAYMENTS maintaining the two cabins and Expenditure on our archaeological research. 11,398 51% 12,027 51% Treasurer’s report Reserves The importance of Government The current financial position During 2017/18 the finances of the subsidy to the trust can clearly be indicates that the Trust will, in the Historical and seen from the fact that 6,164 27% 2,437 10% trust have been very positive owing next financial year, be able to meet Archaeological Research to the large amounts received from subscriptions only cover the cost of and enhance its on-going work the European Commission’s insurance and governance. from its anticipated receipts. Management Costs Common Agricultural Policy. 2,720 12% 3,138 13% We have been able to maintain and However there are concerns about (Running the trust) The trust started the year with cash develop the trust's nature reserves, the financial position of the trust balances of £7,080. As income was only, through money received from Purchase and Maintenance from 2022 onwards, because of the of our assets (Tools and 944 4% 3,546 15% significantly greater than Government's Basic Payment uncertainties of whether and how buildings) expenditure the cash balances at Scheme. much Government Support will be the end were almost £21,600. The principal objective of Langdyke available through rural grants and Professional Advice 455 2% 1,350 6% Income for the trust arises from two Countryside Trust is to promote subsidies. main sources, subsidies through nature conservation in the area Because of this possible reduction Miscellaneous expenses 941 4% 1,102 5% Common Agricultural Policy, namely west of Peterborough, by actively in available funds, the Management Total Payments 22,622 23,600 Basic Payment Scheme, Entry and managing its six reserves. Board also agreed that the Trust will Higher Level Stewardship and Although much of this management need to examine grant aid from Surplus or shortfall on year 14,515 10,771 subscriptions from members. work is carried out by volunteers, grant-making bodies to finance During the year subsidies from the some work is too specialised or larger assets in the future. Loans Repaid 0 8,500 Government totalled £27,937, requires special equipment and the Brian Lawrence Net cash movement on year 14,515 2,271 although some of this money trust employs contractors to do it. Honorary Treasurer related to subsidy due in the During the year, work on reserves Cash Borough forward at previous year but paid late. G Full examined accounts are 7,080 4,809 included willow clearing and grass available from Brian Lawrence, start of year Membership Subscriptions raised cutting at Etton Maxey Reserve and £2,610, which represents only six [email protected] Cash carried forward at end Torpel Manor, hedge planting and m for all members, on request. 21,595 7,080 per cent of income. protecting and replacing fruit trees of year

26 27 PHOTOS PHOTOS A few of your great photos from the Langdyke members Facebook pages

If you are not already a member of the Langdyke Facebook site you can catch up with all the latest posting by following the link: https://www.facebook. com/groups/langdyketrust

28 29 ANNUAL REPORT Acknowledgements Chairman’s Introduction: Richard Astle

30